St. Dunstan's Charity

Mr. Cousins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support he and his predecessors have given to St. Dunstan's charity for blind ex-service men and women; and what further support is under consideration. [158023]

Dr. Moonie:
In keeping with the long standing practice that central Government do not provide funds to assist individual charities' core activities, St. Dunstan's is required to raise its own funding. It does not, therefore, receive financial support from the Ministry of Defence.

23 Apr 2001 : Column: 98W

However, considerable Government assistance is available for those ex-Service personnel who are disabled. Personnel deemed to have sustained a disability due to their work in the armed forces may qualify for a tax-free 'War Disablement Pension' from the War Pensions Agency. They may also qualify for a pension under the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS).

HMS Edinburgh

Mr. Duncan Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the planned deployments of HMS Edinburgh are for the next 12 months. [158525]

Mr. Spellar:
HMS Edinburgh is scheduled to deploy from Portsmouth on 15 May as the Atlantic Patrol Task (South) ship. Thereafter, subject to operational requirements, she is due to operate in North European waters during January-March 2002.

Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Mr. Duncan Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships have (a) entered into service with the Royal Navy since 1 May 1997 and (b) left the service of the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary since 1 May 1997. [158524]

Mr. Spellar:
The following ships have entered service with the Royal Navy since 1 May 1997:

Whistleblowers (Soldiers)

Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures enable soldiers to give confidential information to officers concerning suspicions of (a) paramilitary and (b) Nazi membership of fellow soldiers. [158570]

Mr. Spellar:
Service policy is that membership of paramilitary or Nazi-type organisations is unacceptable. Any member of the armed forces who has a suspicion about an individual involved in such activities would have a duty to report it to the chain of command. Divisional or commanding officers take all such allegations very seriously and have a duty to investigate them and take appropriate action. In addition, in particular where criminal, disciplinary or security activity is suspected, an allegation may be made to either the Service police or security staff.

Each Service also operates a confidential helpline which would advise Service personnel of the correct course of action to take if, for any reason, they were uncertain what steps they should take in these circumstances.

23 Apr 2001 : Column: 99W

Lance Corporal William Thompson

Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the service career of former RIR Lance Corporal William Thompson, indicating in which units of the RIR he served. [158569]

Mr. Spellar:
In accordance with exemption 8a and exemption 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, such details are not to be disclosed without the consent of the individual to whom the information relates.

RAF Chinook ZD576

Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 2001, Official Report, column 86W, on what evidence he based his statement that RAF Chinook ZD576's engines were working right up until impact. [158215]

Mr. Spellar:
This statement was based on the report of the technical investigation carried out by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch following the accident, which said:

"The engines sustained generally moderate impact and fire damage. Strip examination indicated that both were running at high speed with turbines hot at the time of impact, and revealed no signs of pre-impact failure or malfunction that could have affected the operation of either engine."

Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Air Accident Investigation Branch took to verify independently information provided by Textron

23 Apr 2001 : Column: 100W

Lycoming during their investigation into the loss of RAF Chinook ZD576. [158184]

Mr. Spellar:
The engines of RAF Chinook ZD576 and their fuel systems were examined externally in detail by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) at Farnborough with the assistance of a representative from Textron Lycoming, together with representatives from Chandler Evans Co. and Hawker Siddeley Dynamics Engineering. The engines were then strip examined at Textron Lycoming's Stratford, Connecticut plant under the direction of the AAIB.

MLRS M28 Rockets

Mrs. Lawrence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many MLRS M28 rockets Her Majesty's armed forces have in stock. [158396]

Mr. Spellar:
I am withholding information regarding the quantity of MLRS M28 rockets held in stock by the armed forces, in accordance with exemption 1 (a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Mrs. Lawrence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many MLRS M28 rockets have been fired by Her Majesty's armed forces within the United Kingdom since 25 October 1998, indicating in each case the date and location. [158395]

Mr. Spellar:
The number of MLRS M28 rockets that have been fired by Her Majesty's armed forces within the United Kingdom since 25 October 1998, by location and date, is as follows:

23 Apr 2001 : Column: 99W

Location

Unit

Missiles fired

Date

Castlemartin

Royal School of Artillery, Larkhill

6

16 February 2000

Otterburn

101 (V) Regiment Royal Artillery

6

25 November 2000

Castlemartin

Royal School of Artillery, Larkhill

6

21 February 2001

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In addition 750 reduced range practice rockets were fired at the above ranges.

Northern Ireland

Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of Military Appreciation of the Security Situation in Northern Ireland presented to the Prime Minister on 4 October 1971. [158505]

Mr. Spellar:
The document in question was submitted by the Ministry of Defence to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry. It would be inappropriate to publish such documents while the Inquiry is still sitting.

US National Missile Defence System

Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the US National Missile Defence System on the national security of the UK. [156940]

Mr. Hoon:
We share the US's concerns about the problem of missile proliferation and understand the role that missile defence can play as one element of the

23 Apr 2001 : Column: 100W

response. The US has not yet put forward specific missile defence proposals, but has made clear that it intends to consult fully with its Allies before making any decision. We expect to play a full and constructive part in that process, taking account of UK national security interests.

Canadian Defence Deployments

Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations he has held with his Canadian counterpart on identifying Canadian assets for deployment in EU-led operations. [158312]

Mr. Hoon:
I have regular discussions with my Canadian counterpart. The European Union has already welcomed the interest shown by Canada in participating in EU-led operations. Consultations with Canada will be stepped up in times of crisis. Participation by Canada will be of particular importance in the case of EU operations drawing on NATO assets and capabilities. In this context, when the European Union embarks on detailed examination of an option making use of NATO assets and capabilities, particular attention will be paid to consultation with Canada.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Departmental Policies (Ribble Valley)

Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Ribble Valley constituency, the effects on Ribble Valley of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [157850]

Mr. Wills:
Details of the effects of a range of the Department's policies on the Ribble Valley constituency and Lancashire LEA have been placed in the Library.

Departmental Policies (Camden)

Ms Glenda Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the effects, with statistical information on (a) Hampstead and Highgate and (b) the London borough of Camden of his Department's policies since 2 May 1997. [158014]

Mr. Wills [holding answer 10 April 2001]: Details of the effects of a range of the Department's policies on (a) Hampstead and Highgate and (b) the London borough of Camden and Camden LEA have been placed in the Library.